Scammed Into Love

 
Scammed Into Love
Theater for the New City
April 6, 2025 

Photo courtesy of Scammed Into Love

Briana Bartenieff’s musical, Scammed Into Love, is bold, cunning, and witty.  Her writing pushes the envelope with its biting humor and pertinent message.  J.H. Greenwell’s music is striking, crossing a number of genres with a clear rock inspiration.  The collaboration between J.H. Greenwell and Ms. Bartenieff on lyrics proves highly effective.  The songs help to define the characters, focus the objectives, and move the plot forward.

Olivia (played by Maya Partridge) gets her first job straight out of business school.  She thinks it is at an insurance company, but finds out it is a scam call center.  Her boss, Lorelei (played by Audrey Latt) tells her the first rule is to not get emotionally involved with the callers.  When Olivia transfers a challenging caller to Lorelei to manage, Lorelei finds herself breaking that most important rule, risking everything. 

Photo courtesy of Scammed Into Love

In the opening scene, the characters appear two dimensional with clear and simple objectives.  The audience is fully engaged by the comic timing, clever staging, and catchy music.  As the story progresses, the multiple layers of these characters are exposed.  The audience is drawn into their secrets and deeper yearnings.  Audrey Latt delves into this exploration as Lorelei, the main character.  Her staunch, all-business exterior quickly unravels, challenging her core beliefs and toppling the life she built for herself.  She has a life changing decision to make during the second act.  The audience is riveted as she faces her inner fears.  She, along with Sandy Melissa Garcia (playing Sam), beautifully carry the action to its conclusion.

Rosie Allenson, Maya Partridge, & Braderick Morrison
Photo curtesy of Scammed Into Love

Maya Partridge’s character, Olivia, reveals her true self in Act II.  It is a surprise, even though the seeds are well planted in Act I.  Ms. Partridge pulls this reveal off with tact and humor.  Rosie Allenson and Braderick Morrison play Bella and Tommy, two ruthless employees of Lorelie.  The timing and scorn in their bickering is priceless, keeping Act I moving at a stunning pace. 

Ms. Bartenieff’s play is an inspired combination of humor, sarcasm, and social reflection.  The shady actions of the characters are common in today’s environment.  Lorelei defends herself in Act II.  Her rationalization is understandable and accepted.  She is the ‘villain’, yet the audience roots for her to get away with her crimes, especially after she atones.  It is a fascinating look at the values and principles held by our present-day society. 

Scammed Into Love is playing at Theater for the New City through April 20. 

Domenick Danza